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Hyatt Place hotel planned for downtown Bowling Green

Dellisart Wellspring LLC is pleased to announce the construction of a 108-room Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Bowling Green. The hotel will be located adjacent to WKU’s Augenstein Alumni Center in southern end of the TIF district.

A groundbreaking ceremony for a Hyatt Place hotel was held on Sept. 17. The hotel will be located adjacent to WKU’s Augenstein Alumni Center in the downtown Bowling Green TIF district. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)

The ownership of the Hyatt Place hotel in Bowling Green will be Dellisart Wellspring, LLC. This partnership was formed by Wellspring Investment, LLC (Ray Chen & Family) and Dellisart, LLC (Douglas Artusio). The two groups have known each other for several years and started their association with the development of the 124 all-suite Staybridge Suites Hotel in Bowling Green which is now open next to the Carroll Knicely Conference Center located at the corner of Nashville Road and Campbell Lane.

Ray Chen is a businessman who also established Fukuda USA, an industrial equipment service business in Bowling Green. When he relocated Fukuda to Bowling Green in 2006 from California, he also saw potential to expand the family hotel business in town. Wellspring Investment, owner of Staybridge Suites Bowling Green, was established by the Chen family, who are hotel owners based in California with over 20 years of experience in managing, investing and developing hotels. Staybridge is the Chen family’s first hotel project in Kentucky. The Chen family is proud to be part of this community’s economic development and hopes to help contribute to the city’s success for the long-term.

The developer, Dellisart LLC, will begin construction of the four-story hotel will begin this fall with a slated opening in fall of 2014. Meridian Design Build who built the Staybridge Suites Bowling Green was awarded the construction contract for the Hyatt Place hotel.

Dellisart Wellspring LLC has executed a letter of commitment from US Bank and is scheduled for a loan closing in the upcoming weeks.

The WKU Gateway to Downtown Bowling Green TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District stretches for over 350 acres in the heart of downtown Bowling Green. The TIF district legislation was authorized by the state in 2007 and was activated in Bowling Green in 2008. The TIF had a goal of $150 million in capital investment within the TIF boundaries by December 2014. In August 2013, the TIF Authority was notified of certification by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as having attained the investment goal. As of December 2012, the WKU Gateway to Downtown Bowling Green TIF had a capital investment certified at $187 million.

Reaction to the announcement

WKU President Gary A. Ransdell: “The TIF development was intended not only to revitalize downtown Bowling Green but also to connect the WKU campus to downtown. The addition of a Hyatt Place hotel next to the Augenstein Alumni Center is the cornerstone that will complete that gateway to downtown. This is an exciting opportunity for our community and our campus, and we are pleased to welcome Hyatt Place to Bowling Green.”

Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon: “Today’s announcement is the culmination of efforts by the county, city, state and community leaders to grow our community, revitalize the downtown and truly connect with the WKU campus. This will be a tremendous addition to the TIF development, and we are so pleased to see another investment in our community by Dellisart-Wellspring LLC.”

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson: “Bowling Green welcomes Dellisart-Wellspring LLC and Hyatt Hotels. We look forward to and thank them for their investment in our community. This development will fill a need for hotelier service in the downtown area.”

US Bank Regional President Craig Browning: “US Bank is a proud partner of the Hyatt Place project on the edge of WKU’s beautiful campus. This project is yet another example of our willingness to invest in the downtown revitalization efforts of Bowling Green, the university as an economic engine of this region, and our community at large. The hotel will create meaningful jobs and provide a much-needed service, which is key to the University’s strategic plan. There are many strengths to this opportunity including the support of local government, the university, and a very experienced hospitality management team. We have every confidence this project will exceed expectations.”

Doug Gorman, Chairman of the Warren County Downtown Economic Development Authority: “This development by Doug Artusio and his team is a shining example of not only the hard work of Mr. Artusio but also of the partnership between WKU, the City of Bowling Green, County of Warren and the TIF authority. Critical to the success of the WKU Gateway to Downtown Bowling Green TIF has been a hotel. We are excited about the opportunities that a Hyatt Place development brings to our community.”

Kevin Schramm, Vice President of Development for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts: “We are very excited to be working with Doug Artusio’s team on the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Bowling Green. This project presented us with a great opportunity as Hyatt looks to expand the Hyatt Place brand in communities like Bowling Green. Hyatt Place Bowling Green will be a valuable addition to the expanding roster of Hyatt Place hotels on or near college campuses, and we look forward to introducing this innovative brand to the city and to a new group of travelers.”

Jeff Flater, Vice President of Marketing for Hyatt Place: “The Hyatt Place brand is a perfect fit for a campus environment because it was designed for people living a multitasking lifestyle, not just a business traveler or a leisure traveler. From visiting parents and sports teams to guest lecturers and prospective students, and we believe that all guests will appreciate the casual hospitality and practical amenities offered at Hyatt Place Bowling Green.”

About the groups

About Dellisart LLC: The Hyatt Place hotel in Bowling Green will be managed by Dellisart LLC. This is the second managed hotel in Bowling Green since opening the Staybridge Suites in November 2012. Dellisart having been established in March 2001 for the purpose of developing and managing a portfolio of company owned assets, the executive team set forth to establish a strong foundation to support both the pre-opening and post-opening needs of its own hotels. In doing so, the team brought together over 80 years of direct hotel level management and sales & marketing experience, as well as over 40 years of corporate management and brand expertise, to develop the platforms in use today. From pre-project financial modeling, plan reviews, vendor selection and purchasing management, pre-opening sales & marketing support, staff selection and training, pre-opening critical path management, and accounting and payroll services, to the development of post-opening objectives and strategies designed to maximize profits, maintain product quality, and drive guest and associate satisfaction levels, this a truly a turn key solution. Dellisart offers on property operational and sales and marketing support, remote revenue management assistance, employee benefit administration, the management of a fully automated online accounting system, as well as budgeting and capital planning functions, are all simply components of the solution. We believe in hiring the right people, treating and compensating them fairly, putting them in the right position, with the right amount of responsibility and authority, providing and surrounding them with the right resources and tools, so that they have the greatest opportunity to succeed. This solution and approach to management is now being made available to 3rd party management partners in order to assist them in achieving the realization of their maximum potential.

About Meridian Design Build: Meridian Design Build is a privately held, Chicago-based, full-service general contracting firm with extensive experience coordinating the design and construction of hospitality, industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, food processing, commercial, institutional, office and retail facilities. Meridian’s expertise includes new construction, building additions, facility renovations, and interior improvements, for projects ranging in size from $1,000,000 to $30,000,000. The Hyatt Place Hotel is being coordinated by Meridian’s National Projects Group – a group focused on building upon the company’s success completing build-to-suit projects outside the Chicago market for its national clients. Meridian Design Build is a proud Member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation: Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company’s subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt House® brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt ResidencesTM and Hyatt Residence ClubTM. As of June 30, 2013, the Company’s worldwide portfolio consisted of 524 properties in 46 countries.

About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce: Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,100 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region.